Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the driver lost control of the steering and crashed head on into a utility pole. The front driver's side air bag partially deployed and did not completely inflate. The driver sustained a bruised chest and injuries to the right hand and shoulder. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. Police report number: [redacted] was filed. Gary miller Chrysler (5746 peach st, erie, pa) and the manufacturer were notified. The failure mileage was 54,000. ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).')
About a month ago, I was delivering for a pizza company on somewhat wet roads. The guy in front of me had non-functioning tail lights, so I did not see him breaking until it was too late. I hit my brakes and swerved to avoid him, went off the road down a 15-20 foot embankment, and hit a six to eight inch tree hard enough at 35 miles an hour to split it in half and have it fall on top of my car, and to bring me to a dead stop. Even with that force, the airbags did not go off. I had asked Chrysler to look into it, but after three weeks, they basically told me that I did not hit the brakes hard enough because the rate of deceleration necessary to activate them was not present. I cannot believe that this is the only reason, or even the actual reason, they did not go off.
Driving my vehicle on a highway, approaching the city, with cruise control on. Weather clear and sunny. Highway traffic was light. My speed was at around 70 MPH. The driver apparently decided to exit the ramp as it was lined with vehicles. The driver pulled out of ramp and steered to left lane on highway, in front of me. I had to brake suddenly to avoid collision. My car suddenly skidded and spun around once, with rubber burning from tires. My vehicle nearly crashed against the rail as my car skidded for 2nd time to stop. No injuries or property damages. Inspected my car later at gas station. Did not detect any visual problems. Could not figure out why my car skidded and spun around on highway. After the shopping trip, I drove home with no incidents. As I pulled in home, there was smoke coming out of under hood. …
We own a 2007 PT Cruiser, a 2007. This is the second PT Cruiser that we have bought. My husband and his friend, who was driving at the time, had an accident on January 21, 2009. They swerved to keep from hitting a dog and they hit a guardrail almost head on and again the air bags did not deployed and the shoulder straps did not catch. This is the second time that this same thing has happened to us in a wreck with our PT cruisers. We owned a 2003 PT Cruiser, I had a wreck on April 18, 2008, the air bags did not deploy, and the shoulder strap did not catch, as a result, it threw me forward and caused a bad injury to my left shoulder. I stopped at a red light and a car rear-ended me at approximately 50 MPH. It threw me forward into the steering wheel and I injured my left shoulder where I had my hand resting on the steering wheel. …
The horn does not work properly and is defected. It only works when the steering wheel turns to the left and sometimes it gets stuck and won't turn off. Won't work while traveling straight or turning right. The horn did not allow me to warn a driver that almost backed into me, this forced me to move away from him in an unsafe position and he still did not see me and kept on backing out. Had the horn worked it would have prevented this issue that almost cause an accident. I drove home to inspect the horn as to why it wasn't working is when I learned that it only worked while sitting still and turning the wheel to the left and at times it stuck and wouldn't turn off. I don't know how long it has been like this because I don't use it very often, until this particular incident happened. Also the passenger air bag shows to be off with air bag light on.
My husband was in his 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser and was involved in a head on collision, during that accident the ankle air bag deployed and busted his whole ankle out and joint and he had to have a bone graft done and is now still having problems, he has an external fixator on his leg and this has been almost three months after the accident, the cars damage was only to the hood the interior of the car was all still intact and was not at all pushed in, in any way.
I was in a car in September of 2007. I was driving a 2007 PT Cruiser. I rearend a truck infront of me doing approximately 30-35mph. My safety belt didn't lock and my air bags did not deploy. Needless to say my head hit full force into the steering wheel. Road conditions where dry. It was just stop & go traffic bumper to bumper. I just didn't react fast enough. I was told that the sensor for the air bag was located in the center of interior dash console.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. While driving 55 MPH, the contact struck another vehicle. The other vehicle's air bags deployed; however, the contact's did not. He sustained minor injuries to his legs. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken into possession by the insurance company. The failure and current mileages were less than 47,000. Updated 11/12/08 updated 11/18/08.
The air bag light came on and the dealer would not work with me. They want to charge $550 dollars to fix the air bag. But said that it May be more to fix it as of March 9th 2015 many air bags have been reported to NHTSA from Chrysler corp. The whole car is a mess with many brake downs. The car was moving when it broke down.
On August 12,2016 at 12:37 pm while driving my said car a deer ran out in frount of me crossing the road. I avoided the deer and hit a tree head on the airbag light came on but the air bag did not deploy Chrysler have been notified and my car was deemed a total lose. I was driving at approximately 30 miler per hour upon impact.
Airbag complaints in other PT Cruiser years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 19% of the model year's 150 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.